Bolster construction for railroad trucks



May 21, 1946. a A. F. HICKMAN BOLSTER CONSTRUCTION 'FOR RAIL oAD TRUCKS F iled Sept. :5. 194s 2 Sheets-Shet 1 m. 0 \N \m 00 INVENTOR I 504%.

TTORNEYSE 7 y 1946. AL'F. HICKMAN BOLSTER CONSTRUCTION FOR RAILROAD TRUCKS Filed Sept. 5, 1943 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented May 21, 1946 2,400,550 BOLSTER CONSTRUCTION FOR RAILROAD TRUCKS Albert F..Hlckman, Eden, N. Y., assignor to Hiekman Pneumatic Seat (30., Inc., Eden, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 3, 1043, Serial No. 501,115 3 Claims. (01. roe-197.1)

This invention relates to a bolster construction for spring suspensions for railroadcars and more. particularly to a bolster having a novel arrange-.

ment of'the bolster springs whereby a greater degree of spring deflection is obtainable with a very light bolster construction, the bolster being particularly adaptable for railroad freight cars although the bolster can also be incorporated in the spring suspensions for passenger cars.

I This application is a companion application'to my copending applications forspring suspensions for railroad cars, Ser. No. 473,348 filed January 23, 1943, Ser. No. 473,824 filed January 28, 1943 I and Ser. No.'476,943 filed February 24, 1943jthes applications being directed to features shown but not claimed in the present application;

In common with my said copend-ing applications one of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a spring suspension which will function to safely support the car body at high speeds,

higher speeds'being demanded of both freight and passengercar service.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a bolster for a spring suspension in which auxiliary devices for the control of side-sway. are rendered unnecessary. '1

Another aim is to provide such a bolster which will function properly under. extreme climatic 4 conditions and which will adequately resist the effects of the corrosion, ice, grit and .dirt iamming encountered in extreme, railroad operating conditions. 1

' A further object of the invention is to provide such a bolster construction in which the desired spring deflection is obtained with comparatively Another object of the invention is to provide a bolster for a railway truck construction in which journal boxes, truck side frames, and axles of standard construction can be employed. Another object is to provide a bolster for use in a spring suspension in which the suspension can be assembled in large quantities in one central plant and soldas a complete unit.

Another aim is to provide a bolster for use in a spring suspension in'whichall partslarewell within the limits of size and movement required 7 by present railroad standards.

Another object is to provide such a bolster and spring suspension which provides the necessary stability under all. conditions of operation and also provides the desired nondestructive riding qualities.

Another object is to provide such a bolster'co'n structio'n whichis light in weight and is adapted to be used in conjunction with lightweight bodies and equipment, such lightweight bodies and equipment being desirable with the use of increased rall speeds.

"Another object of the invention is to provide a bolster adapted to be'used in a spring suspension which will support the car body in such manner as to permit a minimum side-sway even with road freight car. bodies. i

- Anotherobject of the invention is to provide such a bolster which is so mounted and constructed that it can be easily taken down and replaced or repaired. A

the high centers of gravityxof conventional railsmall movement of the bolster and which is extremely compact and will stand up under con- I ditions of severe and constant usewith little servicing.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a suspension in which any desired 'I'ride characteristics can be obtained, this being achieved by the use of both leaf springs and hellcal springs in the bolster spring assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bolster construction having the desired spring friction characteristics, especially when traveling -under light load conditions, this being obtained by rendering the leaf springs effective under light load conditions and rendering the helical springs efiective under heavy load conditions.

Another object of the invention is to so house the leaf springs as to render them free from-the danger of dirt or ice jamming.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary top plan view of a truck for a railroad freight car body embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section, taken generally on line 2--2, Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section,

, taken on'llne 3-3, Fig. 2 and showing parts broken away. v

Fig. 4; is a fragmentary vertical transverse section, taken'on line 3-6, Fig. 3 and showing parts broken away.

The-invention is shown as embodied in a bolster construction for a four wheel truck particularly designed for freight car service, although it will be understood that features of the invention can be employed in conjunction with six wheel trucks and can be employed in trucks designed for passenger car service. The flanged railroad wheels 20 are shown as riding upon the rails 2! of the railroad track and as being fast to axles 22 of standard construction. The ends of the axles project beyond the wheels 28 and are journaled in 'joumal boxes 23 of any usual and well known construction, each of these journal boxes supporting a corresponding pedestal leg of each truck side frame. These truck side frames, indi-' cated generally at 25, are shown as made of a single steel castingfialthough it will be understood that they could be of fabricated construction and each is formed to provide an upper bar 28, a

lower bar 21 and a pair'of bolster guide columns 28 which form a bolster opening 28 through the center of each truck side'frame. Each of these bolster guide columns 28 is provided with an inwardly projecting vertical flange 38 and the lower ends of these flanges 38 are connected by a horizontal'flange 3|, the flanges 38 and 3l therebyforming an .inwardly projecting saddle or bracket, the interior of which conforms to the shape of the bolster opening 28. Similarly, around thebolster opening, an outwardly projecting saddle or extension is formed in each truck side frame, this comprising a horizontal flange 32 which formsa' continuation of the bottom of the bolster opening 28 and side flanges or'braces 33 which reinforce and support the horizontal bottom flange 32.

Each of the truck side frames 25 is formed at its ends to provide a pedestal 42 having a pair of pedestal legs 43 which form a pedestal jaw in,

which the corresponding journal box 23 is secured by a ring spring suspension designated by the numerals 24 and 48 through 6| and described in detail in my said copending applications.

The truck'is of semi-rigid construction to permit any wheel to rise without lifting the other wheels from the track, thereby tosecure wheel compensation underall conditions of operation.

- This is obtained by connecting the opposite truck side frames by laminated cross members designated by the numerals 68-12 and described in detail in my said copending applications.

The present invention relates particularly to the bolster construction, the bolster being indicated generally at 15.. This bolster is shown as being made of cast steel of box form and square in cross section, the bolster being shown as having a top walllG, vertical side walls 1.1, a bottom wall 18, end walls 18 and a horizontal central partition 8.8'which extends lengthwise through, the center of the bolster and divides the bolster into two longitudinal leaf spring compartments 8|. At its opposite'ends the bolster I8 is provided with an opening 82 in its underside through which the bolster spring connection between the bolster and the truck side frames 25 is obtained,

these openings being arranged over the :seats provided in the bolster openings 28 by the-lower bars 21 and outwardly extending flanges 32 of the truck side frames 25. The top wall I8 of the bolster is formed to provide a center bearing plate 1 8B which can be of standard form to support the car body (not shown) and the sidewalls ll of the bolster have bearingengagement with the opposing faces of the bolster guide columns 28 of the truck side frames, wear plates 88 being p eferably secured, as by bolts 81, to these bolster guide columns 28 for this purpose. The bolster 15 can be prevented from moving longitudinally, relative to the truck side frames in any suitable manner. For this purpose one end of the'bolster I is shown .as having integral vertical shoulders or ribs 88 projecting outwardly from its sidewalls 11 and arranged to engage the inner extremity of the vertical flanges 38 projecting inwardly from the corresponding truck sideframe 28 so as to guide this end of the bolster in its vertical movement in the corresponding bolster opening 28. At the opposite end of the bolster a pair of guide plates 88 are bolted or otherwise removably-secured to the side walls 11 of the bolster in position to engage the inner vertical extremities of the vertical flanges 38 thereof. By this means it will be seen that the shoulders 88 and removable plates 88 through their engagement with the inner extremities of the vertical flanges 38 of the truck side frames guide the bolster I5 in its vertical movement in the bolster openings 28 and prevent longitudinal movement of the bolster. At the same time, by removal 'of the guide plates 88 it will be seen that the bolster 25 can easily be removed from the truck, this facilitating-both the construction and the maintenance of the 20 railroad truck. a

Arranged in each of the leaf spring compartments 8l'is a leaf spring 85 which extends the. full length of the chamber and is composed of a plurality of leaves 85a of progressively increas-' ing length. These leaves are short at the centerof the leaf spring and the lower leaves are of progressively increasing length, each of the springs 85 being secured at its center-to the center of the top wall 18 of the bolster by U-bolts 88 or in any other suitable manner. The opposite ends of each leaf spring are arranged above the open-' ings 82 at the ends of the bolster and are capable of beingflexed upwardly until they engage the top wall I6 at the ends of the'bolster. The opposite ends of the lowermost leaf 85a of the leaf spring is provided with a ridge or corrugation 88 which extends transversely of the leaf and projects downwardly therefrom. This ridge or corrugation 88 fits into a corresponding recess provided in a follower plate 88 arranged in each 'end of the bolster. As best shown in Fig. 2, a single follower plate 88 supports the companion ends of both ofthe leaf springs 85 and the underside of each'of these follower plates 88 is recessed and provided with a liner I88 against which the upper ends of a plurality of helical bolster springs i8l seat. These helical bolster springs l8] are shown as being four in number at each end of the bolster and the lower ends thereof are shown as seating upon'a sheet metalplate I82 which in turn is seated upon thelower bar 21 and outwardly extending flange 32 of the truck side frame within .2516. immediately outside .of the bolster opening The laminated cross members of the truck are preferably assisted in holding the truck side frames agalnst'toeing in ortoeing out by universallyconne'cted cross rods which also serve to support the brake shoes. This structure is designated by then'umera1s'l8ll-l28 and is described in detail in my said copending applications.

. The present invention relates essentially to the bolster construction as including the leaf springs 88 housed within' the bolster'and secured at its center thereto immediately below. the center bearing'pla'te, the ends of these springs being, arrangedin the ends of the bolster so as'to be capable-of being flexed upwardly and being supported on'helic'aibolster springs which are seated on the truck side frames 25-01 the truck ,at the bottom ofthe bolster openings 28 therein. The

leaf springs are primarily designed to provide the desired resilienceunder empty car or light load conditions. Under these conditions the ends of 18 v the leaf springs 88 are free to flex and provide-F9,- e

necessary resilient resistance to safely support the light or empty car when traveling at high speeds. When the load upon the car is heavy enough to cause these leaf Springs to bottom or engage the top wall I6 of the bolster, the resilient resistance is thereafter provided by the multiplicity of helical bolster springs IN. The leaf springs have a degree of spring friction which is desirable under empty car or light load riding conditions, this friction not being present under heavy load conditions when the resilience is provided by the bolster springs H. be appreciated that the relative resistance of the However, it will and having their upper ends at all times projectin'g through said openings in said bolster into the interior thereof, and means for operatively supporting said ends of said leaf spring on said leaf and helical bolster springs can be adjusted to obtain any desired. resultand spring curve.

It will further be seen that the use of the leaf springs 95 permits. the bolster to be of much lighter construction than-conventional bolsters. Thus, the weight supported by the leaf springs is transmitted directly to the center of the bolster l5 and directly under the center bearing plate 85 by the leaf springs themselves and hence a sub- .stantial part of'the weight added by incorporating the leaf springs 95 can be removed from thebolster 15. Further, it will be seen that the leaf springs 95 are effectively housed within the bol- -ster so that they are not liable to become inoperative due to ice or dirt jamming, this being the principal objection to the use of leaf springs in railroad car suspensions.

From the foregoing it will beseen that the present invention provides a bolster construction in which the desired riding characteristics can be obtained under both light and heavy load conditions and in which the resilience is in part obtained by the use of leaf springs which are adequately housed within the bolsters and serve to transmit the load directly from the center bearing plate to the truck sido frames of the truck. It will further be seen that the construction of this bolster in the spring suspension as shown provides adequate spring movement well within the limits imposed by present day standards.

I claim as my invention: ,1. A bolster construction for a railroad truck having truck side frames supported by railroad wheels, and having bolster openings therein,v

of the bolster, said top wallbeing formed at its center to provide a center bearing plate, aborizontal multiple leaved leaf spring housed within said bolster and having a thick central portion arranged under said center bearing plate and having horizontal leaves. of progressively longer length from the top to the bottom thereof, at least two bolts securing said thick central portion of said spring directly to said center bearing plate, the ends of the lowermost leaves .being arranged above said openings in said bolster and being normally free to move upwardly, a helical compression bolster spring seated on each truck helical bolster springs.

2. A bolster construction for a railroad truck having truck side frames supported by railroad .wheels, and having bolster openings therein,

comprising a bolster guided at its ends in said bolster openings and being of box form and having a top wall, vertical side walls, a bottom wall and vertical end walls to provide a substantially enclosed structure except for openings provided through the lower parts of its opposite extremities, said bolster also having a vertical central partition extending downwardly from said top wall andparallel with the side walls and extending the full length of said bolster thereby to form longitudinal leaf spring compartments on opposite sides of said bolster, said top wall being formed at its center toprovide a center bearing plate, a horizontal multiple leaved leaf spring housed within each of said compartments and each having a thick central portion secured to the top wall of said bolster under said-center bearing plate and having horizontal leaves of progressively longer length from the top to the bottom thereof, theends of the lowermost leaves being arranged above said openings in said bolster and being normally free to move upwardly, helical compression bolster springs seated on each truck side frame within the bolster opening therein and having their upper ends at all times projecting through saidopenings in said bolster into the interior thereof, and means for operatively' supporting said ends of said leaf springs on said helical bolster springs.

3. A bolster construction for a railroad truck having truck side frames supported byrailroad wheels, and having bolster openings therein,

comprising a bolster guided at its ends in said bolster openings and being of box form and 113V? ing a top wall, vertical side walls and avertical central partition extending downwardly from said top wall and parallel with the side walls and extending the full length of said bolster thereby to form longitudinal'leaf spring compartments on opposite sides of said bolster, said top wall being formed at its center to provide a center bearing plate, a horizontal multiple leaved leaf sprlng housed within each of said compartments and each having a thick central portion arranged under said center bearing plate and having horizontal leaves of progressively longer length from side frame within the bolsteropeningtherein the top to the bottom thereof, at least two bolts securing said-thick central portion of said spring directly to said center bearing plate, the ends of the lowermost leaves being arranged in said bolster openings and being normally free to move upwardly, helical compression bolster springs seated on each truck side frame within the bolster opening therein and having their upper ends arranged within said bolster, and means for operatively supporting said ends of said leaf springs on said helical bolstersprlnls.

ALBERT 1''. mm. 

